Press conference about the LISA Pathfinder mission
Presentation of first results on June 7, 2016, in Hanover
Media representatives are cordially invited to a press conference in Hanover about the first results from the LISA Pathfinder mission. LISA Pathfinder is an ESA satellite mission which tests core elements of a gravitational-wave observatory in space.
The press conference takes place on June 7, 2016, at 11:15 CEST at the
Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute, AEI)
Institut für Gravitationsphysik of Leibniz Universität Hannover
Callinstr. 38, 30167 Hannover
(room 103)
Doors open at 11:00 CEST. The press conference in Hanover is a parallel event to an ESA press conference in Madrid.
Media representatives are asked to register by June 5 by email with Benjamin Knispel or by telephone (+49(0)511-762-19104). Please also let us know if you would like to conduct interviews with individual scientists after the press conference.
Gravitational waves are a consequence of Einstein's general theory of relativity. Their first direct detection on Earth was achived by the LIGO detectors in September 2015. Future gravitational-wave observatories in space will observe low-frequency gravitational waves not detectable on Earth. They will detect supermassive black holes with the mass of million Suns throughout the entire Universe.
LISA Pathfinder is a satellite mission to demonstrate the core elements of such a space observatory called eLISA. Since March, an international team of researchers has been using LISA Pathfinder as their laboratory in space. For the first time they have achieved the laser interferometry between almost perfectly free-falling test masses in space, which is crucial for eLISA. During the press conference, the results from these experiments will be presented.
Max Planck and Leibniz Universität researchers were pioneers in the conception of the mission. From the very beginning they have been leading partners in planning and development, in the mission operations and the data analysis, and also for the planned space observatory eLISA. The German contribution to LISA Pathfinder and the technological preparation for eLISA are funded by the Deutsche Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.
LPF is an ESA mission, with the European space industry under the overall integration responsibility of Airbus DS and research institutions from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and Great Britain as well as NASA participating.
Schedule
11:15 - 11:25 Karsten Danzmann, Director at AEI and Direktor of the Institut für Gravitationsphysik of Leibniz Universität, Co-PI of the LISA Technology Package: Die Zukunft der Gravitationswellen-Astronomie und LISA Pathfinder (in German)
11:25 - 11:30 Andrea Hoops, Secretary of State in the Lower Saxonian Ministry for Science and Culture, greeting remarks
11:30 - 11:35 Jens Reiche, National Project Manager of the LISA Technology Package: Die deutschen Beiträge zu LISA Pathfinder (in German)
11:35 - 11:40 Gerhard Heinzel, Group Leader “Space Interferometry” at the AEI: Entwicklung von Weltrauminterferometern in Hannover (in German)
11:40 - 11:50 Paul McNamara, ESA LISA Pathfinder Project Scientist -LISA Pathfinder: A new way to look at our Universe (ESA-Livestream from Madrid, in English)
11:50 - 12:00 Martin Hewitson, LISA Pathfinder Senior Scientist, Leibniz Universität Hannover: LISA Pathfinder optical metrology performance (ESA livestream from Madrid, in English)
12:00 - 12:10 Stefano Vitale, LISA Pathfinder PI, University of Trento: LISA Pathfinder first results (ESA livestream from Madrid, in English)
12:10 - 12:15 Karsten Danzmann: Zusammenfassung und abschließende Worte (in German)
12:15 - 12:30 Q&A session with members of the podium (Danzmann, Heinzel, Reiche) (in German and English)
from 12:30 possibility of individual interviews / reception in the institute's foyer / optionally: lab tours
For any further questions, please contact
Dr. Benjamin Knispel
Press and Outreach Officer
Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics
Email: benjamin.knispel@aei.mpg.de
Tel.: +40 (0)511-76219104
Information in social media
@mpi_grav on Twitter
Background information
Paving the way for new astronomy
LISA Pathfinder paves the way for eLISA, a large space observatory for the direct observation of one of the most elusive astronomical phenomena – gravitational waves. These tiny distortions of space-time were predicted by Albert Einstein and were recently detected for the first time ever by the ground-based Advanced LIGO detectors. Space observatories like eLISA will measure gravitational waves in the millihertz range unaccessible to detectors such as Advanced LIGO. Low frequency gravitational waves are emitted, e.g., by pairs of supermassive black holes or binary White Dwarf systems. Space-based detectors will complement the ground-based detectors such as GEO600, aLIGO, and Virgo, which can observe less massive objects at higher frequencies in the audio range. Gravitational wave observatories will probe unknown domains – the “dark side of the universe” – in concert with other astronomical methods. With eLISA, scientist for example want to research the formation, growth and merger of massive black holes. It will also be possible to further test Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity and search for unknown physics.
The highly sensitive measurement system of LPF
Two identical cube-shaped test masses weighing about two kilograms each will be free-floating in their own vacuum canisters for the duration of the mission. They will be almost free of all internal and external disturbances and will thus allow the demonstration of the precise measurement of free-falling masses in space. A special gold-platinum alloy has been used for the masses to eliminate any influence from magnetic forces. Using ultraviolet radiation, a contact-free discharge system prevents electrostatic charge build-up on the test masses. The caging and grabbing mechanism – responsible for protecting the test masses from intense vibrations during launch, releasing them in a highly controlled setting, and capturing them as necessary – is a particular challenge in this context. A laser interferometer will measure the position and orientation of the two test masses relative to the spacecraft and to each other with a precision of approximately 10 picometers (one hundred millionth of a millimeter). In addition, there are less precise capacitive inertial sensors that also help determine their positions. The positional data is used by a Drag-Free Attitude Control System (DFACS) to control the spacecraft and ensure it always remains centered on one test mass. The actual position of the satellite is controlled through cold gas micro-Newton thrusters, which have the capability of delivering propulsion in extremely fine and uniform amounts. The thrust generated is in the micro-Newton range – this equates to the weight of a grain of sand on Earth.
